Police Log - DUI and stolen vacuums

Warwick Police cruiser on Warwick Avenue.

Warwick Beacon photo

Posted
Thursday, August 3, 2017 1:13 pm

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

On July 23 at approximately 2 a.m. Officer David Boardman was traveling south on Jefferson Boulevard transporting a prisoner from Motel 6 to police headquarters for a warrant. During transport, he observed a Chrysler Pacifica van in front of him that was swerving all over the road and crossing the double yellow line on several occasions. The driver of the van also crossed into the breakdown lane and failed to use turn signals while changing lanes.

After initiating a traffic stop near the on ramp to the Airport Connector, contact was made with Niysha Gatison, 37, of 41 Winter Street in New Haven. According to the report, Officer Boardman immediately detected the smell of alcohol while speaking with Gatison, and observed signs of intoxication.

Gatison told the officer that she and her friends were coming from a party and could only give a description that they were coming from Rhode Island. She was asked for her license and registration, but was only able to produce her license. Officer Boardman also observed an opened beer can in the car’s center console.

Additional officers then arrived on scene to provide assistance, and Gatison agreed to partake in a series of standardized sobriety tests. During the test she became disruptive and described the officer using expletives, saying she was fed up with his “[expletive]holeness.” After several attempts to take the series of tests, she stated “I can’t do this, I just can’t.”

Based on her performance, along with the officer’s training and experience, it was determined that Gatison was unfit to operate a motor vehicle safely and arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence.

Gatison was taken into custody and transported to headquarters where she gave officers and the jailer even more difficulty. She stated she had to use the restroom, but refused to use the station’s facilities because “it was against HIPAA because there was a camera in front of the cell.” She also began yelling at officers that the toilet area was not clean enough and that officers should get in there on their hands and knees and scrub the toilet for her.

Later, Gatison refused to take a chemical breathalyzer test. She was charged with driving under the influence first offense, refusal to submit to a chemical breathalyzer test, laned roadway violations and failure to use a turn signal. When officers attempted to have her sign her summons form, she continued to be disruptive and insulting, and attempted to write a statement all over the citation. She then refused to sign the forms before being picked up by a sober adult.

ACCIDENT

Officer Timothy Lipka responded to the intersection of West Shore Road and Oakland Beach Avenue on July 26 around 7 a.m. for a report of a motor vehicle accident.

At the scene he met with the driver of vehicle one, who was the sole occupant of the car. She stated that she was traveling north on Oakland Beach Avenue taking a left hand turn onto West Shore Road through a green light. As she was turning, she observed vehicle two, a green Toyota Corolla, traveling east on West Shore Road at a high rate of speed, according to the report. Her car was then struck on the rear quarter on the driver’s side. Both vehicles then pulled to the side of the road.

The driver of the Corolla, Michael Blake, 62, of 29 Elgin Street in Warwick, provided his name, telephone number and license plate number. He then stated he had to leave and go home, and left the scene. The woman then pulled in the parking lot of 7-Eleven to wait for police. While she complained of neck pain she did not want medical treatment, and after providing a statement was able to drive her car from the scene.

Officers then responded to 29 Elgin Street and met with Blake. In the driveway of the residence was the Corrola. Blake stated he was traveling on West Shore Road towards Oakland Beach Avenue and the sun was directly in his eyes. He said he thought the light was green but it was red, and attempted to stop but did not have enough time.

Upon running checks on Blake’s license and registration, it was discovered that the car was last registered in January 2014 and that the plate numbers had been issued to another car since. His license had been suspended for a few years, and he did not have insurance.

Blake was issued a summons for no insurance, operating an unregistered vehicle, and driving on a suspended license, first offense. His license plates were then seized, and Blake provided a written statement admitting fault for the accident.

LARCENY

Officer Darren Parrillo responded to the Hilton Garden Inn on Thurber Street on July 23 at approximately 10:15 a.m. in reference to stolen tires and rims.

Upon arrival the officer met with the reporting party, who said he checked into the Hilton on Friday, July 21. The car remained parked in the same location until he returned to it around 9:30 on July 23. He then noticed that the front tire was missing.

Officer Parrillo observed that a hydraulic jack had been placed under the right front of the vehicle. The wheel’s hubcap was left behind and the right rear tire had two lug nuts missing in an apparent attempt to steal that wheel as well. It was unknown if the suspects became spooked and left the scene while in the process of stealing more wheels.

A report was taken and forwarded to detectives for review.

STOLEN VACUUMS

On July 24 around 2:30 p.m., Officer James Vible responded to the Quaker Lane Lowe’s for a report of stolen vacuums.

Upon arriving at the store, he met with an officer of the store’s loss prevention team. According to the report, on July 23 staff conducted an inventory of merchandise and discovered the loss of two Dyson brand vacuum cleaners valued at $499 and $599. A review of security footage revealed that on July 23 around 7:45 p.m. a heavyset white male in his 30s wearing a baseball hat, red shirt, and baggy shorts was seen exiting the store with a vacuum cleaner.

A store employee was also observed attempting to stop the man to see his receipt, however the suspect did not respond or acknowledge the employee, and exited the store without purchasing the vacuum. He then departed the area in an unknown vehicle.

The security officer indicated that the store wished to press charges if the suspect is positively identified. The officer was then presented with an email and photo of a suspect with a similar description who has been stealing from a Lowe’s store in North Providence. The report was then forwarded to detectives for review.